Sheet feeding mechanism



9 8- s. E. GREGORY SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 29 1945 s Sheets- Sheet 1 Feb. 17, 1948. s. E. GREGORY SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 NM R w fiww mm NM 8% Filed Dec. 29, 1945 1943. s. E. GREGORY 2,436,16

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM I Filed Dec. 29, 1945 n 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' Patented Feb. 17, I948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM vSherlie E. Gregory, Aurora, Ill.

Application December 29, 1945, Serial No.\638,257 14 Claims. (01. 2714-42) This invention relates to improvements in sheet feeding mechanisms and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims. The invention is more. especially concerned with mechanism capable of use in duplicating machines and printing presses and the like that require the delivery of one sheet of paper or card, stock, at a time, from a stack thereof to another mechanism for operations thereon.

, One of the objectsof the. present invention is to provide mechanism for the purpose mentioned, which "though simple in construction, is efficient in operation at high speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of this. kind, which is capable of being adjusted to function accurately upon all sizes and thicknesses of paper or card stock, within its capacity.

A -further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for the purpose mentioned that in-- cludes sheet engageable'means that may be set to engage the lateral margins of the paper sheets or cards where the lint picked up from the handling of the cheaper grades of stock will not accumulate upon the stencil of a duplicating machine in an area that will cause blurring ofthe the print made on long runs.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide mechanism of this kind which includes parts normallyoverhanging the stack of sheets and which may be swung into an out-of-the-way position permitting a quick and easy replenishing of the sheetsin the stack.

Also, it is a further object of the invention to provide in a mechanism of this kind a imple and novel top sheet engageable finger or brush for .moving the same in one direction of the stack of sheets. 1

The above mentioned objects of the invention, along with others, as well as the advantages thereof will more fully appear as the specification proceeds. v

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a stencil duplicating machine embodying the improved. sheet feeding mechanism. v

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a part of the improved sheet feeding mechanism as taken on the line 2-2 and on a scale enlarged over that of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through apart of the mechanism as taken substantially on the line .-33 and on the scale of Fig z s U Fig. 4 is a top plan view of that part of the mechanism appearing in and on the scale of Fig. 3.

' detail later.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another one of the sheet engageable members embodied in the mechanism and which will, also be more fully referred to later. 1 V

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of a top sheet engageablefinger or brush embodied in the improved mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a rubber or like strip forming a part of the structure appearing in Fig. '7 and before it is folded and curled upon itself for insertion into another part as appears in Fig. '7, and

Fig. 9 is a detailed transverse vertical sectional view through a part of the mechanism appearing in and as taken on the line 9-9 and on the scale of Fig. 4.

The improved sheet feeding mechanism 7 is herein illustrated and described as embodiedin a' stencil duplicatingmachine. However this is to be considered as illustrative only of oneof the machines with which the improved mechanism may be used because it may. also be em bodied in gelatin and spirit duplicators, as well as in printing presses, sealing and other machines that require the delivery of one sheet of paper or card stock at a time from a stack of the same.

In general, the improved mechanism, when embodied in a stencil duplicating machine, is disposed in a position above the stack and is-mounted for a forward and rearward reciprocation of the stack for each rotation of the stencil cylinder of the machine. In a part of the rearward movement of the mechanism, certain fingers forming a part of the mechanism, frictionally grip the top sheet of the stack and move the same rearwardly thereof so that its rear margin engages and rides up on laterally spaced inclined'surfaces at the rear of the stack. This elevates said margin and disposes its edge against stops on the in-' clined surfaces, at which time the ,fingersbefore mentioned, release the top sheet. The mechanism, further includes a member including .a hook, which in the final part of the rearward movement of the mechanism, passes far enough rearwardly of the elevated rear edge of the top sheet, so that as soon as the forward movement of the mechanism starts, the sheet is engaged by the hook and pushed forwardly of the stack and a stencil duplicating machine, the base of which is indicated as a whole at ID. The flat top H of said base torms a ,supmrt for a stack of sheets I2 disposedbetween laterally spaced guides] 31 l 3 respectively, which direct the delivery of each sheet to the sheet gripping mechanism (not shown) of a stencil cylinder H, (see 1) This cylinder is mounted on a transverse shaft l-5 journalled toward one end of the base-for rotary.

movement in the direction indicated by the arrow IBInFig. 1.

Along one side of the base is a horizontally dis.- posed bar I! (see Fig. -1) that is arranged for guided reciprocation in any suitable manner longrtudmaily, of the. base. 7 At, the from; end-ofsaid bar =11 isan upright 'arm l 8,=h avin g an elongated uprightslot'iw, in which engages a crank pin 20, carriedby ,agcrenk disc zl fixed tothe associated encl' ofthe'shaftfi; 'In the-rotation of the stencil cylinder it is obvious that the crank :pin 20 will,'through'the' arm 18, impart a longitudinal reciprocation of the bar '11, forwardly and rearwardlyofthe base loandthe stack of sheets 12 thereon, thethrow of said bar equalling that of the crankpin'fll.

Towa-rdthe rear end of the bar 1'! there is fixed anppright supportin plate 22 and spaced inwardly-therefrom and fixed to the associated side ofthe-paise in anysuitable manneris an u right track or rail plate 23, of a length greater than the throw of the crank pin 20. The top edge of said plate 23 is formed with arelatively high rear end-' tracksurface 24, a front end track surface 25' slightlylow'er than that of the surface 24, and anintermediate track surface 26 which is lower than the surface 25. The surfaces-'24-25 are joined to the ends of the surface 26 by the reversely curved surface portions, 'best appearing in Figs. 1- audit. V r I Fixed in the upper central portion ofthe plate 22,-aga-inst turning-movement, is one end of a shaft 21 that extends transversely of the flat top H of the base in a plane above that of the-stack of papersheets 12 thereon so asto overhang the same. An' {arm -'28 is fixed-to said shaftagainst relativeinovement adj acentthe supporting plate 22. A collar 29 is fixed to the free end ofthis shaft as appears in Fig. 2 and the purpose of said armand collar-will appear later.

' A-tubular member or sleeved!) surrounds that part'of theshaft between the-arm 28 and collar 29 and is capable or a limitedturn'ing movement thereon 'and on the outer endoi said sleeve is a fixed collar 3l'that abuts against the collar 29. The collar 29 is internally recessed to enclose a spring-3?,pn'e'end of which is fixed to the collar 2-9 and the other end of which is fixed to the sleeve. spring normally tends to turn said tubular memberor sleeve in a clockwise direction, when -viewed as in Fig; 3.

flolh-rsS-iand 34 are fixed to said tubular mem- Said blade, atiits forward end, includes a' pair oflaterally spaced arms 3'la-3Ia and a connecting member 38, the arms being journalled on the member of sleeve 30, and spaced from each of the collars 33-34.

39 and 40 respectively, indicate blades, disposed one on each side of the median line, before referred to, to the front of the shaft 21. Each blade is provided at the rear end with an arm lid-r42. The armAJ is journalledon the member 39 hetween tbe'pol a 4 anione ,arm'fia and t e arm 42 is also iournalled on said member between the collar 33 and the other arm 3741.

With the arrangement described, the collars 83--34-, being-fixed to the member 30, hold the arms crane-blades 31, 39 and 40 against movement longitudinally of, but permits them to turn relativelyto said member. A spring 43 surrounds thatipart of the member 30 between one arm 31a and the'collar 3| and the ends of said springs are sovextended as to engage parts of the bladesil,

39 and 4-0 from above, as to'urge them to swing downwardly in opposite directi-on 'into astopped engagementwiththe arms-35 and 360i the collars 33;,and 3'4; When-the blades -31 and, 39 and '40 respectively are in :their normal position, they extend rearwardly andicrwardly -from the shaft in-a substantiallyhorizontal -position in engag'e ment-with t arms 35'6; being yieldingly held in this position by reason 'of the spring-'43. However, with the arrangement described, said blades mentioned may be manually swung into an out of the way-generally upright position, giving full access -tdthe-papersheet stack i2. 'When said blades are released-the spring '43 returns them tot-heir normal-position, shown in-Eig. 3.

0n the median line of the top wall H of the base, toward the rear e nd thereof is alongitudinal slot 44, apart of which is'covered lcgy a thin sheet metal plate 45, disposed underthe rear end or the stack, as best appears in Fig. .3. The rear end of said platawhibh determines the position of the rear end of the stack 12, is provided with a pair of'upwardly and rearwardly inclined arms-46-46 (see Fig. 4), one spaced on each side of the'blade 31 and each terminating in a downwardly-and forwardly extending hook 41.

'Theplate 45 carries on'its medianlina toward its rear end, a bolt 48, whichsupports a spring washer 49, by'means of-a nut 50, the washer 49 acting to frietionally engage the bottom surface of the wall I, as appears in Fig. 3. By this arrangement the plate 15 may be shifted into different positions longitudinallyef the wall -H and be held frictionally in the desired position by the washer -49. Thus this plate may be adjusted or set in that position'that will accommodate that size-of paper sheet or card to be operated upon.

"Mounted on the blade 3'! for longitudinal adjustment thereon is a clip 5! that best appears in perspective in Fig.5. This clip is made of springstrip stock so as to have a relatively tight friction fit on the blade and fixed to "the bottom thereof is a yielding spring arm 52. Said arm extends in a rearwardly and downwardly direction and terminates ina forwardlyand downwardly exte'nding'hook 53, normally disposed in the horizontal plane of the hooks 41 on the arms 46 'before-mentioned. With the clip having the frictional fit on the blade, as before mentioned. the'clip may he slid longitudinally into different positions on the -blade,' so as'to coact with the arms 46'-46,'when the plate 45 has been adjusted-for a certain size of paper sheets or cards that constitute the stack 12.

The blade 39 carries a somewhat similar clip easel-as- 54' that appears in perspective in Fig. 6. This clip includes a body 55 that is engaged with the bottom surface of the blade 39 and in said body is a longitudinal slot 56. By means of a screw or the like, this clip may be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly of theblade and locked in the adjusted position. Said clip includes a downwardly and rearwardly directed arm 58 that leads ofi from the front end of the body and which terminates in a downwardly and forwardly extending hook 58a, which is used when feeding postcard stock, when the plate 45 has been adjusted forwardly on the wall I l into proper position for that purpose.

2 Associated with each blade 39 and 40 is a top sheet frictional gripping member that includes a rod 60 preferably of a rectangular cross sec-- tion and having an annular head 6| at one end.

This head holds a frictional gripping member- 62, preferably made from a strip of rubber or the like, such as appears in Fig. 8 and bearing the numeral 62a. tudinal corrugations 62b on one face thereof, is plain on the other face. Such a rubber strip is folded transversely, with the corrugations on the outside thereof, to bring end portions of the strip together and which folded rubber strip, which is wider than thediameter of the head 6 I, is forced thereinto and then permitted to expand into substantially the condition appearing in Fig. 7. This disposes the transversely folded part of the strip below the head El, and which part tends to bulge and which opens up the corrugations, and forms a number of spaced frictional gripping surfaces for engagement with the top sheet in the stack l2.

. Extending through each blade 394E! from below, is a stud 63' (see Fig. 9) and in the bottom portion of said stud is av longitudinal slot 64, of the width of a rod 60. The upper end of said stud is threaded to receive a thumb nut 65. The rod 60 of each top sheet gripping member is inserted through the slot-64 of its stud 63 from below the associated blade 39 or 40. When a nut 65 is tightened upon its stud, it serves to draw the associated rod 60 into a fixed position relative to the blade. It is obvious that by loosening the nut 65, the rod 60 may be adjusted longitudinally with respect to its stud 63 so as to be of different effective lengths. By swinging the rods 60 laterally and thereby causing the studs 63 to turn in the associated blade 39 or 40, a universal adjustment is afforded for the gripping elements as a whole. The frictional gripping elements 62,v as afforded by the rubber strips 62a, may be adjusted into forward andrearward positions, as well as laterally, as appears in Fig. 4, to engage upon that area of the top sheet in the stack, as may be desired. Thus, these frictional gripping elements may be adjusted to function with all standard sizes of paper sheets, half sheets and postcard stock, as are operated upon by the machine. It will be noted that these elements have a considerable adjustment as to .sweep. Therefore, they may be set to engage the top sheet at the lateral margins thereof and when the paper is of the cheaper grade and will slough off lint, thislint will not. accumulate on the stencilin the areas that. will cause blurring ofthe produced print on long runs of such paper} 65 indicatesa downwardly and forwardly extending-armwhich is fixed to the sleeve 30, ad-

jaoentthearm 28, and in the bottom edge of the arm 6 6is ashoulderfil, adapted for releas-- Said strip, which has longi-- 6 able engagement by a pawl 68 pivoted to the arm 28, as at 69. This pawl has a relatively long heavy rearwardly and downwardly extending tail piece 10, which in the forward movement of the supporting plate 22 is adapted to engage a-stud' H, that projects outwardly from the face of the rail plate 23. These parts best appear in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

T 12 indicates an arm that is fixed at one end to the sleeve 2'! adjacent the arm 66 and which arm extends forwardly and somewhat downwardly from the sleeve, as best appears in Figs.. 1 and 3. Theother end of the arm 12 carries a roller 13 normally held in yielding operative engagement upon the track surfaces 24+-25 and 26, of the rail plate 23 by the action of the spring 32. I H n The operation of the mechanism, when-ein-f bodied in a stencil duplicating machine, is as follows: In the rotation of the stencil carrying cylinder M in the'direction of the arrow H5 (in Fig. 1) the bar I! is reciprocate'd in 'a straight line guided path back and forth longitudinally of the base Iii. As thesupportin'g plate 22, and parts mounted on the shaft 21 which it carries, is fixed to the bar l1, it is obvious that "a like movement is imparted to shaft 21 and sleeve and parts mounted thereon. In'l ig.v 1, the supporting plate 22 is shown-"in the forward limit of its stroke. 'At this time the topmost sheet of the stack has been fed or delivered to the cylinder 14 and the tail piece 10 of the pawl 69 will have engaged the stud H so that the pawl 68 has been released from its engagement behind the shoulder 610i the arm 66.

Also, atthis time, the roller 13 on the arm 12 which is fixed to the sleeve 30 is engaged on the track surface 25. With the parts inthis position, the arm 12, which is fixed to the sleeve, holds the sleeve 30 against turning on the shaft 21' under the action of the spring 32 so that the friction fingers 62 as provided by the folded rubber strips 62a are spaced from or disposed above the sheet of paper which is now on the top of the stack l2. s

In the rearward movement of the'bar l1, the supporting plate 22, which carries the shaft 21 and parts mounted thereon, moves rearwardly therewith. As the roller 13 enters upon-the lower intermediate track surface 26, the spring 32 will cause the sleevetfl to rock clockwise when viewed in Fig. 3 so that the friction fingers 62 will pass into frictional engagement upon a front end portion of what is now the top sheet of the stack. In the continued rearward movement of the plate 22, the top sheet of the stack is fed rearwardly and as its rear edge engages the arms 46-45, the rear margin I29; of the sheet will ride upwardly upon the inclined surfaces of the arms until it engages with the hooks ll-41 thereon.

. In this rearward movement of the plate 22,

the pawl 68, under the action of its tailpiece '10;

drops in behind said shoulder and locks the shaft against'turning movement in the other direction. Of course, in thisrearward movement of the plate 22, the -blade3l and clip 5| thereon also verearwardly and at the end of the movement,

sheet.

The bar l1 and plate 22 now. start forwardly and the hook 53 of the'clip: 5t will operatively' engage or pick up the. rear elevated margin I20: ofthe-topsheetand move or push thesamev for.-

wardly toward the stencil cylinder "which nowgrips the forward edge of thetop sheet and moves it into-operating position on the cylinder to receive: theimpressionfrom: the stencil thereon- In this. forward movement of the parts, which is. the feeding; or delivery movement of the top sheet. the pawl 68 is still engaged with the shoulder 6-1 of. the arm 66 and this, of. course, so

holds thesleeve 30against turning: that the friction fingers 62E2 are disposed in their out of engagement position with respect to said top sheet. Thus when the top sheet of the stack is beingmov-edforwardly toward the cylinder 14;. the. fingers 62 move forwardly therewith, while in. a, position elevated above said top sheet.

- When: the forward movement of the plate 22' is substantially con'lpleted,v the tailpiece 'lfl of the pawl 68 engages the stud H and this rocks the pawl 68 (clockwise asinFig. 3 so as to withdraw it from'behind theshoulder 61.. curs,v the roller 13 drops into engagement with the track:surfacezi.v This drop, however, is not sufficient. to permit the fingers 62-62. to engage the-.new top sheet. of. the stack. the roller 13- rides down upon the intermediate and lower track surface 26, the friction. fingers ii2-62 drop into gripping engagement with the top sheet. and the feeding; cycle of said top sheet repeats itself, as before described- Assume that the stack t2 is to be composed of postcard stock. Under; such conditions: the plate 15 is: moved forwardly intothat positionwherein the armsdtfi and 4.6 are. disposed in operative position rz-alative to the clip 54' on. the blade 39 and the operation proceeds as before described, except hook 58a is the pickup instead of hook 53.

When the stack [2 needs replenishing; theblades 31,. 39' and 40 respectively are swung into a substantiallyuprightposition wherein they are disposed out of the way so that additional paper sheets may be placed upon the stack.

By loosening the nuts. 65, the friction fingers or pads 82-62 may be moved forward, rearwardly or laterally inwardly or outwardly, so asto be usable with any size of sheet or card within the range of the machine. I

It is" obvious from the above description that the structure is quite simple and is devoid of gearing, intricate cam and segment features and the like, which soon get out of timing in operation and require frequent servicings. The mechanism is capable of efficient operation at high speed and is quite noiseless in such operation.

While in describing the invention I have refen-ed indetail to the form, arrangement and construction of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense and therefore I do notwish. to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Sheetfeeding mechanism embodying therein means for supporting a stack of paper sheets, a support arranged above said stack of sheets for reciprocatmg movement forwardly and rear- When this oc-- ardly thereof, mean-s movable-with said. support; and operativein the rearward movement thereof. to grip the-top sheet. ofthe stack and: moveit: rearwardlyand then-release-zthe same so-that. its rear margin extends rearwardly of the rear end of the stack, means at said rear end of the stack. for elevating saidrear margin of said top sheet when in its extended position, and meam movable with the. support and operative'in the forward movement thereof toengage theelevated; rear margin of thetopsheet for. feeding the-same forwardly of the stack.

2; Sheet feeding mechanism embodying there.- in means for supporting a stackof paper sheets, a support arranged above said stack, of sheets for reciprocating movement forwardly and rear wardlythereof, inclined means on said supporting means at the rear end of the stack; means movable with; said support and operative in the rearward movement thereof to grip the top sheetof the stack and move it rearwardly and then release the same after the rear margin of said top sheet has engaged and ridden up said in-' clined' means so as to be elevated above and extended beyond the rear end of the slack, and means movable with said support and operative in the forward movementthereof toengage said: margin of the top sheet for feeding the same forwardly of the stack.

3. Sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein means for supporting a stack of paper sheets, a support arranged above said stack of sheets for reciprocating movement forwardly and rearwardly'thereof, means pivotallymounted on' said support and movable therewith and operative in the rearward movement thereof to grip. the top: sheet ofthe stack and to move it rearwardly and then release it so that its rear margin. extends rearwardly' of the rear. end of the stack, means at the rear end of the stack for elevating said rear margin of the top sheet when in its extended position, and means movable with said. support and operative in the forward movement. thereof to engage the elevated rear margin of the top sheet. for feeding the. same forwardly of the stack;

4. Sheet feeding mechanism. embodying therein means for supporting a stack of paper. sheets,. a support arranged above said stack of sheets for reciprocating movement forwardly and rearwardly thereof, means pivotally mounted on said support and movable therewith and operative in the rearward movement thereof to grip the top sheet of the stack and to move it rearwardly and then release it so that its rear margin extends rearwardly of the rear end of the stack, means at the rear end of the stack for elevatingsaid. rear margin of the top sheet when in its. extended position, and other means pivotally mounted on and movable with said support and operative in the forward movement thereof to engage the elevated rear margin of the. top sheet for feeding the same forwardly of the stack.

5. Sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein means for supporting a stack of paper sheets; a support arranged above said stack for reciprocating movement forwardly and rearwardly of the stack, means pivotally mounted on and normally extending generally forwardly therefrom, a second means pivotally mounted on and normally extending generally rearwardly therefrom, means mounted on one of said two last mentioned means and operative in the rearward movementof the support to grip the top sheet of the stack and move it rearwardly and; then release the same 9 so that its rear margin extends rearwardly of the rear end of the stack, means at the rear end of the stack for elevating said rear margin of the top sheet when in its extended position,- and means also movable with at least one of said two a, last mentioned means and operative in the forward movement of the support to engage the elevated rear margin of the top sheet for feeding the same forwardly of the stack, said two last mentioned means being swingable from their generally forwardly and rearwardly extending position to a substantially upright position permitting the placing of papers in stack position on said supporting means.

6. Sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein means for supporting a stack of paper sheets, a support arranged at one side of said supporting means and mounted thereon for reciprocating forward and rearward movement, a non-rotative member fixed to said support in a position above and extending transversely of said stack of sheets, means mounted on said non-rotative member for rocking movement, means carried by said last mentioned means and operable in the rearward movement of said support to grip the top sheet of the stack and move it rearwardly thereof and then release the same so that its rear margin extends rearwardly of the rear end of the stack, means at said rear end of the stack for elevating the extended rear margin of the top sheet, and means also carried. by said means mounted on said non-rotative member and operable in the forward movement of the support to engage said elevated rear margin of the top sheet for feeding the same forwardly of the stack.

'7. Sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein means for supporting a stack of paper sheets,

, a support arranged at one side of said supporting means and mounted thereon for reciprocating forward and rearward movement, a non-rotative member fixed to said support in a position above and extending transversely of said stack of sheets, means mounted on said non-rotative member and extending forwardly thereof, means carried by said last mentioned means and operative in the rearward movement of the support to grip the top sheet of the stack and move it rearwardly and then release the same so that its rear margin extends rearwardly of the rear end f'the stack, means at the rear end of the stack for elevating the extended rear margin ofthe top sheet, and means carried by said means'mounted on said non-rotative memberand extending rearwardly thereof and operable in the forward movement of the support to engage the elevated rear margin of the top sheet for feeding the same forwardly of the stack.

8. Sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein means for supporting astack of paper sheets, a support arranged at one side of said supporting means and mounted thereon for reciprocating forward and rearward movement, a nonrotative member fixed to said support in a position above and extending transversely of said stack of sheets, means pivotally mounted on the non-rotative member and normally extending forwardly therefrom, means carried by said last mentioned means and operable in the rearward movement of said support to grip the top sheet of the stack and move it rearwardly thereof and then release the same so that its rear margin extends rearwardly of the rear end of the stack, means at the rear end of the stack for elevating the extended rear margin of the top sheet, and

means also pivotally mounted on thenori-rotative memberandextending rearwardly therefrom, and carrying a member whichin the forthe same forwardly ofthe stack, both of said means that are pivotally mounted on said nonrotativemember being capable of swinging upwardly fromtheirnormal forwardly and rearwardly' extending positions into substantially an upright position providing for the replenishing of the paper sheets of the stack.

9. Sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein means for supportinga stack of paper sheets, a support arranged at one side of said supporting means and mounted thereon for, reciprocating forward and rearward movement, a. nonrotative shaft fixed to said support in a position above and extending transversely of ,said stack of sheets, a tubular member mounted onsaid shaft fora rocking motion, a member turnably mounted on said tubular member and, extending forwardly therefrom and carrying means operable in the rearward movement of the support to engage the top sheet of thestack, and move it rearwardly and then release it with its rear margin extended beyond the rearend of [the stack, means at the rear end of thestack for elevating the extended margin of the top sheet, a second member turnably mounted on said tubular member and extending rearwardly thereof and carrying means operable in theforward movement of the support to engage and feed said top sheet forwardly, means carriedby said tubular member and engageable by both of said last mentioned members to limit the downward turning movement thereof to said forwardly and said rearwardly extending positions respectively, spring means for turning said members about the axis of said tubular member in one direction until stopped by said means carriedthereby, each of said last mentioned membersbeing. yieldably swingable into positions permitting a replenishing of the sheets in the stack. v

10. Sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein means for supporting a stack of sheets, means engaged onsaid supporting, means under the stack of sheets and adjustableto different 7 last mentioned means grip the top sheet of the stack and moves it rearwardly sothat its rear margin rides up said inclined surfaces. intofa stopped elevated position and then releases; said sheet, said means disposed above said stackalso inciuding parts operative in the forward move,- ment of the means disposed above'the stack to grip the elevated rear margin of said top sheet and move said sheet forwardly of the stack.

11. Sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein means for supporting a stack of sheets, means engaged on said supporting means under the stack and adjustable to different positions on said supporting means, means carried by said last mentioned means providing upwardly and rearwardly inclined surfaces at the rear of the stack that terminate at the top end in a stop, means disposed above the stack and arranged for reciprocating movement forwardly and rearwardly thereof and including parts which in the 11 rearward movement of the last mentioned means grips the top sheet and moves it rearwardly so i that its rear margin rides up said inclined surfaces to engage said stops and then releases the same, said means disposed above the stack also including a hook-like member on its underside operative in the forward movement of said means to engage the elevated rear margin of said top sheet and feed the sheet forwardly in the forward movement of said reciprocating means.

12. Sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein means for supporting a stack of paper sheets, a support arranged at one side of said supporting means and mounted thereon for a reciprocating movement forwardly and rearwardly of the stack, a non-rotative shaft fixed to said support in a position above and extending transversely of the stack of paper sheets, a tubular member mounted on said shaft for a rocking movement, a member turnably mounted on said tubular member and extending forwardly therefrom and carrying friction finger means for engagementwith the top sheet of the stack, means fixed to said tubular member and engageable by said turn'able member to limit the downward turning movement thereof, a rail arranged at said side of said supporting means, and having surfaces arranged at different elevations, an arm fixed at one end to said tubular member and carrying a part at its other-end for operative engagemen't with said surfaces in the rearward movement of the support forcaus-lng said friction finger means to grip the top sheet to move the same rearwardlyand to then release said top sheet in a position where its rear margin is spaced from the rear edge of the stack, and means operative in the forward movement-of the supporting member for operativelyengaging said rear margin of the top. sheet for feeding the same forwardly in the forward movement of the supporting member.

13. Sheet feedingmeehanism embodying therein means for supporting a stack of paper sheets, a support arranged at one side of said supporting means and mounted thereon for a reciprocating movement forwardly and rearwardly of the stack, a non-rotative shaft fixed to said support in a position above and 'ext'ending transversely of the stack of paper sheets, a tubular member mounted on said shaft for a rocking movement. a member turna'bly mounted on said tubular member and extending forwardly therefrom and carrying friction finger means for-engagement with the top sheet of the stack, means fixed toisaid tubular member and engageable by said 'turn'able member to limit the downward turning movement thereof, ara il arranged at said side of said supporting means, and having-surfaces arranged at diflerent elevations, an arm fixed at one end to said tubular member and carrying :a part at its other'end for operative -engagement with said surfaces the rearward movement of'the support for oausing-saidfriotion finger means to grip the top sheet to move-the same rearwardly, means at the rear end of the stack providing an upwardly and rearwardly inclined surface with a stop at the upper end thereof and up which inclined surface the rear margin of said top sheet rides into engagement with said stop, and means operative in the forward movement of the supporting member for operatively engaging the elevated rear margin of the top sheet for feeding the same forwardly in the forward movement of the supporting.

14. Sheet feeding mechanism embodying therein means for supporting a stack of paper sheets, a support arranged at one side of said supporting means and mounted thereon for a reciprocating movement forwardly and rearwardly of the stack, a non-rotative shaft fixed to said support in a position above and extending transversely of the stack of paper sheets, a tubular member mounted on said shaft for a rocking movement, a member turnably mounted on said tubular member and extending forwardly therefrom and carrying friction finger means for engagement with the top sheet of the stack, means fixed to said tubular member and engageable by said turnable member to limit the downward turning movement thereof, a, rail arranged at said side of said supporting means, and having surfaces arranged at different elevations, an arm fixed at one end to said tubular member and carrying a part at its other end for operative engagement with said surfaces in the rearward movement of the support for causing said friction finger means to grip the top sheet to move the same rearwardly, means at the rear end of the stack providing an upwardly and rearwardly inclined surface with a stop at the upper end thereof and up which inclined surface the rear margin of said top sheet rides into engagement with said stop, and means including a hook movable with the supporting member and operable in the forward movement thereof to engage the elevated rear margin of the top sheet for feeding the same forward of the stack.

SHERLIE E. GREGORY.

REFERENCES CITED The, following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS,

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,436,168. February 17, 1948.

SHERLIE E. GREGORY It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 12, line 11, claim 13, after the word supporting and before the period insert the word member; and that the, said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of April, A. D. 1948.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

